NEW DELHI (Oct 3) – The Union Health Ministry has issued a nationwide advisory cautioning against the use of cough syrups in children under two years of age, following the recent deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linked to suspected contaminated formulations.
The advisory, circulated by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to all states and Union Territories, stresses that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and resolve without medication.
“Cough and cold medications should not be prescribed for children under two years. These are generally not recommended for children under five, and above that, any use should be based on careful clinical evaluation, strict supervision, and proper dosing,” the DGHS said.
It recommended non-pharmacological measures such as hydration and rest as the first-line approach for managing cough and cold in children.
Probe into reported child deaths
A multidisciplinary team comprising experts from NCDC, NIV, ICMR, AIIMS Nagpur and state health authorities is investigating the child deaths. So far, tests by the Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration have shown no presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG) — toxic contaminants previously linked to fatal poisoning in cough syrups.
The DGHS clarified that in Rajasthan, the implicated product was a dextromethorphan-based syrup, not recommended for paediatric use. It also did not contain propylene glycol, which can be a source of contamination.
The ministry has urged all healthcare facilities to procure medicines only from GMP-compliant manufacturers using pharmaceutical-grade excipients to avoid fake or unsafe formulations.